The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-21
Details of the Great Fire.

Details of the Great Fire.
To the Western Associated Press.
HoUGHToN, Mich, May 20.-5:30 P. M.-The
fire at Lake Linden is now under control. The
flames were first noticed issuing from the second
story of Neuman e Treleases general merchan-
disc store. Everything was as dry as finder,
and despite the heroic efforts of fremeE and cit
liens. the spread of the flames was very rapid.
In less than two hours after the first
alarm the entire business portion of the
town, from the starting point OF the
fire to the public schoolhouse building,
in ashes. Every saloon but one and every
store. except that occupied by F. Weber & Co.
a meat market. was destroyed The loss is a
terrible one to Lake Linden. and conservative
judges place the pecuniary damage at one and
one-half million dollars. The insurance is
probably not less than three quarters of
million. No lives lost, as far as known.
The property of the Calumet and Hecla Com
pany escaped without damage. Both Hough-
toms and Hancocks fire companies responded
noby to the call for assistance, and did great
work Nearly every family turned out reports
great loss of household goods and surplus cloth
ing, the flames reaching out with such rapidity
that householders quickly realized that their
only safety was in instant fight
lives would have been lost. Words fail to pict-
ure the awful speed with which the flames
swept through the doomed town. Families
rushed from their homes to the street. saving
only their clothes on their backs. Hundreds of
families are homeless tonight. without bedding
or clothing, except what they have on. No
stores left to furnish supplies, and Hancock
and Houehton merchants are sending mattresses
and bedding to the homeless people.
Neuman is in Europe. Trelease was in Calumet
when the fire broke out, and reached Lake Lin
den to see his block wholly enveloped in flames.
Everything as dry as finder. from the long
drought and even solid brick blocks melted
away before the flames like snow. The flames
swept to the shores of the lake, from the school
house, half mile, three or four blocks wide.
The town is wiped out.
A rough estimate of the losses only is possible
at this hour, the intense excitement making it
hard to get the facts. The losses
stores alone foot up about 100000
VIM. Harris, general store and residence
800, OOo Neuman & Treease. general stock and
building, $50, 900; HEM & Co., general store,
$50 600; n. Reding & Co., general store, $4,000
Neuman & Hart, clothing stock, $4,000; D. W.
Suffer. bank, dwelling and building, 100000;
Thereault & Deschamp. drug store. $4,000;
biel, 800 OOO Paul Perrult. brick block, $4,000;
Arthur Noble drug store, sc, coo; E. Henwood,
hardware, $4,000; MaIherb & Huberty, hotel,
So OOO General Duquette, hotel and
livery stable, $8OOO Leon Gillett, jewelry
store, $4,000 A. H. McDougail, tailor, 81, 900;
Fred Rizweet, meatmarket, So, coo; Joseph
Pearce, hardware, So, 000 Herb Blum, liquors.
stock So, 600; telephone exchange. instrum ents
and plant, S.. 000
The following dwellings are destroyed; N.
Messmer George Owens. Leon Gillette, two
houses, jewery store and tailor shop; J. 7. Hill,
store and dwelling P. Reading, l.. Narcotic,
Neuman g. Trelease, store, barn and ware
house: ". N Jewell hotel and barn;
Octovae Cowell. dwelling; Manvint Musgner.
dwelling ard barn; J. Schwab. dwelling; N.
Carpenter saloon and dwelling; Adolph Lzotte,
shoe shop; B. F. Brown, livery stables and barn.
G. Brule harness and shop; N. Sarasin, dwell
ing; A. f. Devile, drug store and DWELLING Alex
Barber, boarding house; Jacob Getzen. grocery
store and dwelling; S. Lanclet. sa-
loon and dwelling; VIM. Green
dry goods and dwelling; VIM. Green,
saloon and dwelling L. Deschamp. store
| and hall: William Hoske saloon and dwelling:
| nj. Laplaut, dwelling and barn; Jerry Belleau
| dwelling; 2. w. Parrault dwelling; p. w. Par
| rault, brick building Jerry Belleau, store and
| dwelling; \. Fortcer boarding house, John Ben
| nalock, meat market and notions John Benna-
lock- dwelling; May Hoar, dwelling; L. Des-
| champs, candy store and Offices; n. Redlng g.
| Co., store; Leo Owens, dwelling; Charles Their
| rim, saloon; Charles Therrin, dwelling.
| Water for Fire Purposes Refused.
| ADRIAN, Mich, May 2O.-At 5 o'clock this
| morning fire broke out in the old Comstock plan
| ing mill, spreading to the lumber yard of
D. w. Baker. adjoining. The limited water
supply of the citys cisterns soon gave ont, and